Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool: Trent Alexander-Arnold’s second-half equaliser moves Arne Slot’s men eight points clear

Trent Alexander-Arnold came to the rescue as Liverpool moved eight points clear at the top of the Premier League courtesy of a pulsating 2-2 draw at Aston Villa.

Mohamed Salah got the visitors off to the perfect start when he fired home a record 15th Premier League away goal from Diogo Jota’s pass on 29 minutes.

Villa responded nine minutes later through Youri Tielemans’ superb volley before Ollie Watkins nodded Lucas Digne’s cross into the corner in first-half stoppage time.

Alexander-Arnold’s deflected strike dragged the visitors level just past the hour, but neither side could find a winner, with substitute Darwin Nunez wasting the best of the opportunities when he blazed over with an empty goal gaping.  

The result means Liverpool edge eight points clear, but have now played a game more than title rivals Arsenal.

Villa stay ninth and are five points off fourth-placed Manchester City, albeit having played a game more than their rivals for a European berth.

Next up, Liverpool visit champions Manchester City on Sunday, just 24 hours after second-placed Arsenal host West Ham. Aston Villa are at home to Chelsea on Saturday evening in what could be a key battle in the hunt for the European places.

"Obvously we are disappointed [not to win], but we fought and had chances to win the game," he told TNT Sports on the pitch following the 2-2 draw at Villa Park.

"We took risks at the end and were more open at times. We take the point and move on; we focus on a big one at the weekend [Man City] again.

"We tried everything tonight and unfortunately [it was] not enough for the three points.

"Credit to Aston Villa today, they made it very difficult for us. Now we have to move on to the next one."

On talk of title jitters and giving Arsenal hope, he added: "This is the Premier League; it’s physical for everyone, Aston Villa - and everyone. We have a tough one on the weekend [at Man City], and Newcastle after it.

"Our focus will now be on Man City. A very difficult game, but we have to fight every second on the pitch to win games and get points on the board.

"That’s the only task we have, to focus on ourselves. It’s never easy. That’s the only way to get success, is to focus on yourself and do everything in your power to win games.

"Unfortunately we could not do that today. [For the City game] We need everyone in the best shape, ourselves and the fans."

ROBBIE FOWLER: Yes [it was a good point], eventually. They [Liverpool] were losing the game 2-1 and got back into the game. It’s a point gained. As a Liverpool fan, you want Liverpool to win the game and put in a performance. They worked hard and could have won the game, but so could Aston Villa in the end."

ALAN HUTTON: "They [Villa] will be pleased. There are always things you can do better. Defensively they put themselves under pressure at times."

He added: "Both teams had good opportunities – you think of the Nunez one over the bar and then Malen at the end. They will take the point and move on."

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Trent Alexander-Arnold’s second-half strike rescues a 2-2 draw for Liverpool to move them eight points clear at the summit.

Aston Villa have still failed to beat the Merseysiders in nine attempts but do extend their unbeaten league run on home turf this season to 13 matches [since an August loss to Arsenal].

The Merseysiders are now 22 games unbeaten in the Premier League, but the draw does open the door for Arsenal, who can cut the gap to the summit to five points when they host West Ham on Saturday.

Liverpool face a tough trip to Man City on Sunday and the murmurs of a wobble will now grow in volume.

Arne Slot’s men could have moved 10 points clear with a win at Villa Park, but may now find themselves in an almighty scrap to realise their title dream.

Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool

Malen rifles just wide from 20 yards out.

Liverpool are hanging on for a point.

Alisson gets down well to gather at his near post after Cash's low strike threatened to get tricky via a deflection.

Rogers rifles over the top from the left side of the box after the hosts had kept the heat on from the right-wing corner.

The home side have won a corner down the right...

Five minutes added.

Bradley is down and as he gets up he limps to the side.

He will be replaced by Quansah.

Liverpool will move eight points clear but will have played a game more than Arsenal.

Villa will stay ninth, five points off the top four.

Bogarde on for McGinn.

Mac Allister off, Diaz on.

Ramsey surges free and expertly slides a finish beyond Alisson - but the flag goes up.

VAR checks and concurs.

Salah races after Alisson's intelligent fast kick.

The Egyptian finds the supporting Nunez who fluffs his lines with a woeful pass towards Szoboszlai.

Malen tries his luck from distance but it's deflected behind for a corner.

The set piece comes to nothing.

Maatsen on for Digne.

Nunez is in a foot race with Martinez but the Villa 'keeper sticks out a vital leg way outsiode his area and block the ball to safety!